Basic HTML Version
Waldenses Defend the Faith
45
Satan had urged papal priests and prelates to bury the Word
of truth beneath the rubbish of error and superstition. But in a
wonderful manner it was preserved uncorrupted through all the ages
of darkness. Like the ark upon the billowy deep, the Word of God
outrides the storms that threaten it with destruction. As the mine
has rich veins of gold and silver hidden beneath the surface, so the
Holy Scriptures have treasures of truth revealed only to the humble,
prayerful seeker. God designed the Bible to be a lessonbook to all
mankind as a revelation of Himself. Every truth discerned is a fresh
disclosure of the character of its Author.
From their schools in the mountains some youth were sent to
institutions of learning in France or Italy, where was a more ex-
[46]
tended field for study and observation than in their native Alps. The
youth thus sent were exposed to temptation. They encountered Sa-
tan’s agents who urged upon them subtle heresies and dangerous
deceptions. But their education from childhood prepared them for
this.
In the schools whither they went they were not to make confi-
dants of any. Their garments were so prepared as to conceal their
greatest treasure—the Scriptures. Whenever they could they cau-
tiously placed some portion in the way of those whose hearts seemed
open to receive truth. Converts to the true faith were won in these
institutions of learning, and frequently its principles permeated the
entire school. Yet the papal leaders could not trace the so-called
corrupting “heresy” to its source.
Young People Trained as Missionaries
The Vaudois Christians felt a solemn responsibility to let their
light shine. By the power of God’s Word they sought to break the
bondage which Rome had imposed. The Vaudois ministers were to
serve three years in some mission field before taking charge of a
church at home—a fitting introduction to the pastor’s life in times
that tried men’s souls. The youth saw before them, not earthly
wealth and glory, but toil and danger and possibly a martyr’s fate.
The missionaries went out two and two, as Jesus sent forth His
disciples.